St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-17

those fortunate enough to be able to crafty
this ambition nothing can be more pleasur-
able. 1t is onlywithin few years that it has
been possible for us to crafty these artistic
tastes TO the fullest extent, for we have
been sadly lacking in artists who would
devote themselves to this work. Men
builded their homes and decorated them in
the crudest manner possible, with no eye to
the beautiful; house building and decorating
were left in the hands of the
practical mechanic. and as result
our homes were stereotyped with same
ness very firing to the artistic eye. 1t is
true that occasionally one would see home
filled with the beautiful things of many
countries, but the secret of it was that the
owner had travelled and eagerly seized upon
the many articles of virtu and decoration
not to be found in this new country of ours.
The great exposition at Philadelphia in '76
no doubt opened the eyes of Americans to
the beautiful and artistic objects produced
by nations who were to them far inferior in
civilization. and caused them to see wherein
they were sadly deficient in matters artistic.
Architects and artists were quick to see this
change in the ideas of the American people,
and they ransacked every nook and corner
of the earth for designs for homes to take
the place of the packing-boX style so long
in existence. Then in every city of size
men of artistic tastes made it a business to
study interior decoration. They sent their
agents far and wide to collect and bring
home the product of the decorative handi-
work of older nations. Southern Spain,
Italy, Turkey and the splendors of the
Orient were called upon to supply the grow
ing demand for artistic decoration. Such
business is that carried on by
Messrs. J. L. McAfee & Co., successors
to Jacassay & Co., formerly in the Mann
heimer block. Mr. McAfee is a gentleman
of rare taste and judgment. and there are
to-day many examples of his artistic ability
in the homes of our citizens, single apart
mentS IN some and in many instance the
whole house, his speciality being to take a
house in the rough. after it has left the
hands of the architect and artisan. Find
ing his quarters IN the Mannheimer block
too crowded he has fitted up the entire
building. 46 East Third street. as a school
of decoration. numerous rooms OF different
sizes, each an exhibition chamber, dis
playing the artistic products of a country
or people. The first floor of this building
is divided into two apartments the front
for the display of tapestries, English.
French and Japanese wall papers and
stamped leather. The walls and ceiling of
fere with the coloring of the goods on eXhi-
bition. At the back of this room are the
designing rooms of the corps of artists and
craftsmen. who are employed to make
water color designs of an apart
ment or suite, so that clients may
be able to select Understandings
the style of decoration best suited to their
taste and means. Springing from the main
room on this floor is a magnificent staircase,
baronial in its proportions, leading to the
floor above, where are shown rooms deco
rated in different designs. Passing through
a graceful Moorish arch, paneled with
carved woods. stamped leather, Moorish
fret work and Japanese lattice work, its
openings hung with Venetian ornamental
iron in grOtesque forms, you pass into
spacious department for the special display
of the fabrics of the associated artists of
New York and the Morris goods. of London
Silks, tapestries. chintZes and velvets are
displayed here in great profusion. The
room next to this is for the display of
Turkish and Indian goods, Persian and
Moorish rugs, carpets and hangingS. Back
of this again is the embroidery room, de-
voted to embr0iderieS of the heavier sort,
used in decoration. In all these rooms and
apartments artistic furniture is strewn about
where one may recline and enjoy with the
utmost comfort the many beautiful things
On the third floor are situated the work
ROOMS. where goods are made up and
draped.
The whole establishment is complete in
every detail and an enjoyable hour may be
spent in looking over it's many beauties.